Frederick Family of 10 Is Safe, but Home Heavily Damaged by Fire

WINCHESTER — A local family is displaced after spending most of the early afternoon watching their home burn.

The fire, which began just after 11 a.m. at 158 Stephenson Road, was still being knocked down an hour later.

The Miller family's home in the 100 block of Stephenson Road was heavily damaged this morning by a fire. The family of 10 escaped the fire with no injuries. (Melissa Boughton/The Winchester Star)

Meanwhile, the Miller family — all 10 of them — stood in the cold, some without jackets and shoes, waiting for the billowing smoke to stop.

“Everything I own is in there,” said an emotional Darlene Miller. “My sons are out here with no pants, no coats, no shoes.”

Miller, 50, said she, along with her husband and daughters, rolled onto the scene after running some errands in town.

She said one of her sons was in the street and at first she wondered what he was doing outside.

“Never in a million years did I think the house was on fire,” she said.

Her husband, Daniel Miller, 61, said he could not believe what was happening.

“All of a sudden you’re homeless, you’ve got nothing,” he said. “In a matter of minutes you’re out in the cold.”

Not able to think much further than what was happening at the moment, some of the family tried to stay warm in their vehicle, some stood in the front yard and others tried to find a neighbor’s home to keep the young children warm.

The local chapter of the American Red Cross was on scene at the time as firefighters continued to fight the blaze.

Part of Stephenson Road, near Martinsburg Pike, was shut down while fire and rescue crews continued to work.

For more information about the blaze and where the Miller family will end up, read Tuesday’s Winchester Star.